Package for electronic components

Abstract

Package for electronic components of a switch, which switch includes sensing components such as thermistor, measuring components, and output-control components, some of which components are relatively highly power-dissipative. A first portion of the switch supports the thermistor in a bushing wherein the head of the thermistor is bonded to the bushing with an electrically insulating material and the head of the thermistor is bonded to a wall of the package with a thermally conductive material, all of which bonding provides shock and vibration protection for the thermistor. Heat is removed from the highly power-dissipative components by a thermally conductive material which conducts heat from the components to a surrounding capsule and by wires which connect the switch to outside circuit components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Package for electronic components of a switch which is connected to outside circuit components by conductors, which switch is comprised of at least one sensing component, sensing and measuring components, output-control components, and power components, some of which components are relatively highly power-dissipative, which package comprises: first packing means for supporting the at least one sensing component in a first portion of the switch, the first packing means comprising: (a) means for isolating the at least one sensing component electrically from an environment in which the first packing means is disposed; and p2 (b) means for conducting at least one physical property which si descriptive of the environment to the at least on sensing component;     second packing means for supporting and separating the sensing and measuring components and the output-control components from the power components; and   third packing means, disposed in a capsule, for supporting the highly power-dissipative components, the third packing comprising: means for isolating the highly power dissipative components electrically from an environment in which the third packing means is disposed and   for dissipating heat generated by the highly power-dissipative components wherein heat from the components is conducted to the capsule and to the conductors.     
     
     
       2. The package of claim 1 wherein the switch is a thermal switch, the at least one sensing component comprises a temperature sensing component, and the first packing means further comprises a bushing for supporting the temperature sensing component. 
     
     
       3. The package of claim 2 wherein the temperature sensing component comprises a sensing means and wire means and the bushing is comprised of: a cup means disposed at a first end of the bushing for supporting the sensing means and   at least one shaft which extends from the cup means into a longitudinal shaft, which longitudinal shaft extends into the bushing from a second end which is opposite from the first end, which at least one shaft supports the wire means.   
     
     
       4. The package of claim 3 wherein: the cup means comprises a first cylindrical shaft and a second cylindrical shaft which extend into the bushing from the first end;   the means for isolating the at least one sensing component comprises a first material, being disposed in the first shaft, which first material is substantially electrically insulating;   the means for conducting comprises a second material, being disposed in the second shaft, which second material is substantially thermally conductive; and   the first material substantially bonding the sensing means against the bushing and the second material substantially bonding the sensing means to an outer wall of the first packing means.   
     
     
       5. The package of claim 4 wherein the bushing comprises slots which extend from the second end towards the first end for use in assembling the switch. 
     
     
       6. The package of claim 5 wherein the first packing means comprises insulating means which is at least partially disposed within the longitudinal shaft of the bushing, which insulating means is comprised of shafts. 
     
     
       7. The package of claim 6 wherein the first packing means comprises a third material disposed at the second end of the bushing, which third material is substantially electrically insulating. 
     
     
       8. The package of claim 7 wherein the third packing means comprises a fourth material which substantially covers the highly power-dissipative components, which fourth material is substantially thermally conductive and substantially electrically insulating. 
     
     
       9. The package of claim 8 wherein the second packing means comprises thermally insulating means disposed to block transmission of heat from the first packing means.